New Zealand Fudged the Data on How the Kidneys Fare After the COVID Vaccines


In a January 2023 preprint in The Lancet, the New Zealand government released a study showing a 70 percent increased rate of kidney injury following two doses of Pfizer mRNA vaccines. Even more telling of injury was the dose-dependent effect. That is, one dose of Pfizer showed a 60 percent increased rate of injury within three weeks post-injection, while two doses showed a 70 percent increased rate of injury three weeks post-injection. “Acute kidney injury” was not defined by the authors but is understood in a clinical setting to include measurable changes in lab results and/or serious signs and symptoms such as bleeding, pain with urination, kidney stones, nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, or other renal dysfunction.

The data were drawn from a national database of over 4 million people over the age of 5 who had received the Pfizer vaccines. This number represented 95 percent of New Zealand adults and teenagers.

Compared to historical background rates of kidney injury, the following changes in acute kidney injuries were found in the original article, as shown in this screenshot.

These alarming results of vastly increased kidney injury were published in the abstract of the original article, and here are two screenshots from the January 2023 version of the abstract of that article:  [1]

Now let’s zoom in on the last two sentences:

None of the above is now available online anymore, except through web archives.

The full paper does not seem to be available anymore anywhere, just the abstract, and the following is what appears when you click on the link that worked back in January:

Hiding the Data in New Zealand

Then a strange thing happened to the New Zealand data. Not only did the above paper disappear, but the numbers of reported acute kidney injuries were cut nearly in half. Here is what the same table now shows, from the same-titled paper, by the same authors, since August 2023, [3] at this link:

Suddenly, from January to August 2023, the observed acute kidney injury (AKI) events now are only 57 percent and 58 percent, respectively, of the originally reported AKI events. As a result, the data shown in August look like the Pfizer vaccine made no difference or even implied a slight benefit, whereas the data published seven months earlier had shown an alarming increase in acute kidney injuries postvaccine.

Also, in the August 2023 revision, the reported number of those who had received the first dose was reduced by about 100,000, and the number of those receiving the second dose was reduced by over 200,000.

During the time period of the study, Feb. 19, 2021, to Feb. 10, 2022, New Zealand had relatively low rates of COVID-19, as seen in the chart below. [4] The curve below took a vertical turn on Feb. 11, 2022, which was the day after the New Zealand government authors of the paper stopped collecting data. Until that dramatic turn, daily new confirmed COVID cases in New Zealand remained near zero.

So it is not plausible to attribute the kidney injuries seen in New Zealand post-COVID vaccines to COVID-19 infection.

How Do the mRNA Vaccines Injure the Kidneys?

The following list of kidney injuries and disorders were observed in the Pfizer clinical trials. [5] Pfizer listed the following urinary tract injuries seen in the Pfizer clinical trials in its “Appendix 1: List of adverse events of special interest.”

From the Pfizer list of over 1,200 types of injuries, I pulled out the syndromes and injuries observed in the Pfizer trials that were specifically related to, or consequent to injuries to, the kidneys, and/or syndromes and injuries that affected the kidneys more than any other organ. I found 40 such disease conditions. They are as follows:

  1. 2-Hydroxyglutaric aciduria.
  2. Acute kidney injury.
  3. Anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody positive.
  4. Anti-glomerular basement membrane disease.
  5. Autoimmune nephritis.
  6. Bilirubin urine present.
  7. C1q nephropathy.
  8. Chronic autoimmune glomerulonephritis.
  9. Cryoglobulinaemia.
  10. Dialysis amyloidosis.
  11. Fibrillary glomerulonephritis.
  12. Glomerulonephritis.
  13. Glomerulonephritis membranoproliferative.
  14. Glomerulonephritis membranous.
  15. Glomerulonephritis rapidly progressive.
  16. Goodpasture syndrome.
  17. Henoch Schonlein purpura nephritis.
  18. IgA nephropathy.
  19. IgM nephropathy.
  20. Immune-mediated nephritis.
  21. Immune-mediated renal disorder.
  22. Lupus nephritis.
  23. Mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis.
  24. Nephritis.
  25. Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.
  26. Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.
  27. Renal amyloidosis.
  28. Renal arteritis.
  29. Renal artery thrombosis.
  30. Renal embolism.
  31. Renal failure.
  32. Renal vascular thrombosis.
  33. Renal vasculitis.
  34. Renal vein embolism.
  35. Renal vein thrombosis.
  36. Scleroderma renal crisis.
  37. Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome.
  38. Urine bilirubin increased.
  39. Urobilinogen urine decreased.
  40. Urobilinogen urine increased.

Here is a list of 10 other injuries and syndromes observed postvaccine in the Pfizer trial that involve the kidneys but are not exclusive to them. These often affect and damage the kidneys, but I did not include them on the above list since they are not specific to the kidneys. They are as follows:

  1. ANCA vasculitis.
  2. Diffuse vasculitis.
  3. Disseminated intravascular coagulation.
  4. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
  5. Polyarteritis nodosa.
  6. Pulmonary renal syndrome.
  7. Systemic lupus erythematosus.
  8. Systemic scleroderma.
  9. Thrombotic microangiopathy.
  10. Type III immune complex-mediated hypersensitivity syndrome.

More than 1,200 different adverse events of special interest were observed and reported in the Pfizer clinical trials. Here is a screenshot of just those related to disorders of the glomeruli, the fine filtering units throughout the kidneys—over a half million in each kidney—that separate blood from urine:

Other Findings of Kidney Injury Post-COVID Vaccination

Post-COVID vaccine renal events were recorded in a study of 111 patients with previously biopsy-proven glomerulonephritis and two prior mRNA vaccine doses. [6]

The authors found that 22.5 percent of vaccinated patients experienced new-onset or relapse of glomerulonephritis or other renal events following COVID vaccination. Additionally, 10.8 percent had increased proteinuria, 12.6 percent had worsening hematuria, and 0.9 percent had creatinine values 150 times what is normal or worse.

No difference was found between the Pfizer-vaccinated and Moderna-vaccinated with respect to renal events.

The study found the following:

That study did not discuss the time elapsed from vaccination to glomerulonephritis pathology. This smaller study of 13 patients found that the median time of onset was one week after the first dose and four weeks after the second dose. [7] The patients typically presented with acute kidney injury, edema, and visible blood in the urine.

Several reports of minimal change disease appear in the peer-reviewed literature. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] Most of those cases occurred within several days of receiving a mRNA COVID vaccine, usually after the second dose, sometimes after the third dose. [15] It has also been seen following the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine. [16]

Minimal change disease is not one of the conditions noted in the Pfizer adverse events list. It is an insidious kidney disorder that is so named for the very subtle changes in the glomeruli filtration, which leaves gaps in filtration. Nephrotic syndrome results, in which proteins leak through the gaps from the blood into the urine, and then systemic effects of hypoproteinemia result.

Other kidney diseases observed following COVID vaccination include the following:

  • Visible blood in the urine (hematuria) within hours after vaccination. [17]
  • Membranous nephropathy. [18]
  • Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. [19]
  • ANCA glomerulonephritis. [20]
  • ANCA vasculitis. [21]
  • IgA nephropathy in children. [22]

Magnetic resonance urography is shown below in an MRI image of the kidneys and proximal ureters (photo from OHSU).

We can appreciate in the above photo that the fan shape of a kidney allows lots of surface area peripherally for maximum fine filtration of blood to urine, and the collecting ducts gather centrally toward the minor calyces, major calyces, and then finally, the renal pelvis, to effectively drain off urine with downward flow, gravity-assisted. Hence the fanned “kidney bean” shape.

If You Think the Kidneys Were Hit Hard . . .

After an extensive review of the medical literature over the last three years, since the onset of mass COVID vaccination campaigns, I can say with confidence that the medical literature reveals many fewer victims of kidney injuries following these vaccines than of other types of bodily injuries. Other bodily organs have fared far worse than the kidneys for most of the victims. Most notable and now well-known are the myocarditis and other cardiovascular injuries, for which I described the mechanisms of injury and the ubiquity among the COVID-vaccinated population, [23] as well as brain injuries, [24] among others.

Future vaccines must be screened thoroughly for risk to kidneys and other organs before use in adults, and then only with fully detailed and uncoerced informed consent. Clearly, such toxic products as mRNA injections must never be used in children at all and must never be made a condition of work or study for anyone.

Conditions That Affect Your Kidneys


Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

1/13

When health problems affect your kidneys, they can cause CKD. This is permanent damage that may get worse over time. If they’re so damaged that they stop working, it’s called kidney failure, or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The treatment is usually either dialysis — when a machine does the work your kidneys normally do, or a transplant — when you get a new healthy kidney from a donor.

Diabetes

Diabetes

2/13

This leading cause of kidney failure damages the organs’ small blood vessels and filters. That makes it difficult for them to clean your blood. Your body holds on to more salt and water than it should, and there’s more waste in your system. Nerve damage caused by the disease can make urine back up and harm your kidneys through pressure or infection.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa

3/13

People who have this have an unrealistic body image, and they don’t eat enough to stay at a healthy weight. (They weigh at least 15% less than they should.) That can lead to a lack of water, electrolytes, and salt in the body, which can cause chronic kidney disease and, eventually, kidney failure. This is especially true for people who binge-eat and purge (vomit or use laxatives) to get rid of calories.

High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure

4/13

If the force of blood flow through your body is too high, it can stretch and scar — and weaken — your blood vessels, including the ones in your kidneys. This can keep them from getting rid of waste the way they should, and the extra fluid in your blood vessels can raise your blood pressure even more, leading to a dangerous cycle. It’s treated with medication and changes to things like your diet, exercise habits, and stress level.

High Cholesterol

High Cholesterol

5/13

If you have too much bad cholesterol, it can build up in the vessels that carry blood into and out of your kidneys, and that can affect how well they work. It also makes you more likely to have high blood pressure and diabetes. A blood test can tell you if your cholesterol level is too high.

Lupus

Lupus

6/13

This is a disease that makes your immune system attack certain parts of your body. When it affects your kidneys, it’s called lupus nephritis. It causes inflammation and scarring of the small blood vessels that filter waste out of your kidneys, and sometimes in your kidneys as well. It’s treated with different medications: Some affect your immune system, while others help control your blood pressure or get rid of swelling and excess fluid.

Multiple Myeloma

Multiple Myeloma

7/13

This kind of cancer involves the white blood cells (plasma) that help you fight infection. The cancer cells build up in your bone marrow, where they crowd out healthy blood cells and make abnormal proteins that can cause kidney problems. More than half the people with multiple myeloma also end up with kidney problems.

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

8/13

This happens when small blood vessels in the kidney and other organs get damaged. That can eventually cause kidney failure. It happens after 5 to 10 days of diarrhea, usually brought on by an infection, like from E. coli bacteria. Most people recover if it’s treated quickly. See your doctor if you have several days of diarrhea, aren’t peeing often, and are very tired. You also may get bruises or unusual bleeding.

ANCA Vasculitis

ANCA Vasculitis

9/13

This is when your own antibodies — which usually fight germs — attack the small blood vessels in your kidneys and other organs. It may lead to blood and protein in your urine and can cause kidney failure. You may have fever, body aches, joint and muscle pain, and brown, tea-colored pee.

Urine Blockage

Urine Blockage

10/13

If you can’t pee, that can mean urine is backed up, and that can damage your kidneys. It can cause pressure and lead to infection in your kidneys and other parts of your body. An enlarged prostate, prostate cancer, kidney stones, bladder cancer, urinary tract blood clots, and colon cancer are some of the things that can cause this. See your doctor if you’re peeing much less or much more often than usual or if you see blood in your urine.

Blood Clots

Blood Clots

11/13

Many conditions can cause blood clots, but a blood disorder — thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura — is commonly linked to kidney problems. It causes clots in tiny blood vessels that also can affect your brain and heart. Symptoms include fever, bleeding from your nose or gums, diarrhea, chest pain, confusion, headache, bruising, and feeling very tired. It can be serious if it’s not treated quickly, so see a doctor if you have any of these signs.

Scleroderma

Scleroderma

12/13

This is a group of rare diseases that make your skin and connective tissues hard and tight. It can sometimes also harm other things, like blood vessels and organs. If it affects your kidneys and they don’t work the way they should, they can let protein escape through your urine. It also can cause a sudden increase in blood pressure that can lead to rapid kidney failure.

Polycystic Kidney Disease

Polycystic Kidney Disease

13/13

This causes cysts — small sores often filled with fluid — to grow inside your kidneys. That makes them much larger than they should be and damages their tissue. It’s caused by problem genes you get from one of your parents. If it’s not diagnosed and managed soon enough, it can lead to chronic kidney disease and, eventually, to end-stage renal disease.

If You’re Into Spicy Foods, Your Kidneys Would Like You To Read This


If a dose of Nexium (or Prevacid or Prilosec—really any proton pump inhibitor) precedes your five-alarm chili or extra spicy enchiladas, you may want to reexamine your game plan. New research shows that your go-to PPIs—the little pills that allow you to eat all the fiery foods and chocolate and caffeine you want—could have a serious effect on your kidneys. (Heal your whole body with the 12-day liver detox for total body health!)

The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that PPI use is associated with a higher risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD)—a condition that affects about 14% of adults in the US and is characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function.

Researchers examined the health records of 10,482 participants in the Artherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study and found that the 322 people using PPIs had a nearly 12% risk of developing CKD over 10 years, while those who had never used the medication had an 8.5% risk. Another batch of records from 248,751 patients from the Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania were also examined. Over the course of 10 years, the 16,900 patients using PPIs had a 15.5% risk of developing CKD, compared with a 14% risk in non-PPI using patients. And within each group that used the medication, twice-daily PPI use was associated with a higher risk of CKD than using the medication once daily.

Spicy Food And Your Kidneys

Proton pump inhibitors were first introduced in 1990 with the promise of giving heartburn and indigestion the boot. Now, more than 15 years later, PPIs are one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States—despite studies that have linked PPIs to other health issues, such as hip fractures, pneumonia, and C. difficile infections, according to the JAMA Internal Medicine study. What’s more, an estimated 25 to 75% of all PPI prescriptions are unnecessary, and patients are known to take them beyond the recommended guidelines.

Spicy food
So what can PPI-taking, acid reflux sufferers do? Make sure you really need the meds in the first place, suggests Jamie Koufman, MD, founder of the Reflux Center and Voice Institute of New York. “If you’re only having occasional symptoms and you know they’re caused by a bad diet, you can probably stop your own acid reflux by rethinking when you eat and how you eat,” Koufman says. In her book, Dr. Koufman’s Acid Reflux Diet, she suggests eating more avocados, fish, and rice, while nixing “trigger” foods like onions, citrus, and chocolate.

And if you’ve been taking PPIs for a while, you may want to start considering your exit plan. “On average, patients shouldn’t be on a PPI for any longer than 1 to 6 months if they have severe acid reflux; they’re not for long-term use,” Koufman says. If you’re wary of PPIs but still want a medical fix for your chronic heartburn, ask your doctor about H2 blockers (like Zantac), which aren’t quite as strong as PPIs but offer fewer side effects, suggests Koufman.